Horse-shield



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

MARTIN HALFPENNY, OF PONTIAC, ASSIGNOR TO FLOYD & FOSTER, OF

DETROIT, MICHIGAN.

HORSE-SHIELD.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. d59,383, dated September 8, 1891.

Application filed February 16, 1891. Serial No. 381,584. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, MARTIN HALFPENNY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Pontiac, county of Oakland, State of Michigan, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Horse-Shields; and I declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same,such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it pertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawingsavhich form a part of this specification.

Figure l is a View of one of my shields in position on a horse. Fig. 2 is a view of the shield and the straps for adjusting the same. Fig. 3 is a plan of the shield proper. Fig. 4 is a View of a plain metallic shield.

My invention consists in the form given to the shield proper by which I am able to accomplish its purpose and at the same time provide an apparatus that can be manufactured cheaply, and can be kept clean while in use.

In carrying out my invention I arrange the shield in a basket-form, in which A represents the upper part of the frame, and the longitudinal bars a a the lower part, these upper and lower parts of the frame being connected at intervals by the vertical bars a. The lower bars of the frames at a are at the forward end brought togetherand elevated to the frame A, to which they are rigidly attached at the point I). The openings between the upper and lower parts of the frame when closed by the vertical bars a are sufficiently contracted, so that that part of the shield forms an inolosing case for the sheath of the animal. The longitudinal opening B between the bars a a is of sufficient width to allow the penis of the stallion to project for the purposes of urinating, but not wide enough to permit the erection between them, and the form of the opening is such, being contracted at the point I), where the bars a Cb come together, that in case the horse attempts an erection or to throw forward and up against the abdomen such movement will be arrested in the angle formed at the point I), and the pain and inconvenience caused thereby will effectually stop any efforts at self-abuse.

hen in position on the stallion, as shown in Fig. 1, the upper bar A of the frame rests usual manner by a belly-band D, which is split at d fnto the separate straps cl. One of these straps I connect with the shield, as shown, with a rivet, while on the other I interpose a buckle to allow adjustment of the shield. These straps are attached to the shield at either end at point (1 as shown.

E is a pad or saddle to aid in keeping the shield in place.

F is an elastic section of the belly-band to allow the horse to lay down without displacing the shield, and also allows it to give way in case of a sudden erection where the consequent pain would not effect an immediatereduction.

The band may be divided at the top, as shown in the drawings, and attached to the pad E at each end, as this construction will be found to aid in keeping the shield in position.-

I am aware that shields have been made with a straight longitudinal aperture, and where such aperture was inclosed by straight metallic bars; but in no case has there been used a shield constructed wholly of metal, such as is disclosed in the application, and in which the side bars inclosing the longitudinal aperture have been extended up to the abdomen and forming an angle in the forward upper end of the aperture. I am not aware that the longitudinal bars have ever been combined with a frame so as to constitute a case inclosing the sheath of a horse. The straight bars that are not raised and formed into a closed end at the front permit an erection between the shield and the abdomen, and thereby contribute to the result which the aim of the shield is to prevent. By my construction the erection is stopped in the forward end even in cases where the shield has become loosened.

It has been the usual practice to support the frame immediately surrounding the longitudinal aperture with a leather apron,which is found very objectionable on account of its liability to become unclean and cause injury to the animal. I11 my construction I do away with the leather apron and inclose the sheath of the animal in a metallic shield, preferably of open-Work, as described. While I prefer the open-work the shield may be made as shown in Fig. 4, Without departing from my invention, and the solid metal sides and front will be found much cleaner than the leather apron, and has the advantages of the closed end.

In Fi g. 4 the sides of case are solid, as shown at H, and forms a dish-like structure with longitudinal aperture at the bottom and front.

What I claim is- A horse shield consisting of frame A,

In testimony whereof I sign this specifica- 0 tion in the presence of two Witnesses.

MARTIN HALFPENNY.

Witnesses:

W. W. Lneen'rr, FRANK P. HAINES. 

